Tonsillolith removal is first recommended by the ENT specialist to perform yourself at home with a toothbrush.
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Tonsillolith removal with hard objects like toothbrush is never recommended and can be in fact injurious. A specialist will never recommend anything like that to be done at home. Instead of using a toothbrush, delicate options can be used like a cotton swab or water pick. If the stones become large and painful, they can be removed by the ENT specialist using minor surgery.
Cryptolysis is a procedure to treat tonsil stones.
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Cryptolysis is a procedure wherein the ENT specialist uses laser resurfacing technique to reshape tonsils and reduce the tonsil fissures where the stones grow. But this procedure is not a full-proof method of tonsil stone removal and the tonsilloliths can grow back again. Tonsillectomy is the only method to remove tonsil stones permanently.
A side effect that is sure to affect after tonsillectomy
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Although tonsillectomy is the safest procedure for removal of tonsil stones from the tonsils, it causes severe throat pain for several days after the surgery. It can have other side effect like bleeding, infection and swelling problems also.
The most common symptom of tonsillolith is
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Bad breath due to tonsil stones occur because these stones are mainly formed due to bacterial accumulation and the bacterial produces volatile sulphur compounds. The chronic bad breath also known as halitosis may not go even after washing mouth and teeth with mouthwashes, toothpastes etc.
Tonsilloliths can be cancerous.
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Tonsilloliths are not at all cancerous. Cancers occur when cells grow in an uncontrolled manner. Tonsilloliths are not growths of cells. They are calcified cluster that form in the tonsil crevices and are benign harmless accumulation of bacteria. If tonsil stones are diagnosed and treated early they do not pose any serious problem.